Automatic throttle-valve-control device for automobiles



Sept. 15. 1925 H. A. LARDNER AUTOMATIC THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL DEVICE FORAUTOMOBILES Filed Nov, 21; 1925 INVENTOR HENRYALARDNE BY M/%ZM ATTORNEYPatented Sept. l5, 1925."

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. LARDNER, or MONTCLAIR, new JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC THROTTLE-VALVE CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed November 21, 1923. vSerial No. 676,113.

' automobiles and comprises automatic 'closing and opening means for thecarbureter throttle valve, cooperating with some essential members ofthe vehicle driving mechanism. v

To fully explain the advantages of my invention I shall refer briefly tothe prevailing method of fuel supply regulation for automobiles,provided with the conventional types of carbureters and throttle valves,

- and where the sup ly of the explosive mixture is controlled" ysuitable manipulation of the throttle valve by means of hand or footlevers. The predominating form of throttle valve in these cases is theso-called butterfly valve which is not even tightly fitted to'its seatin most cases, which condition alone may result in fuel loses.Furthermore, for the purpose of idling the engine which from time totime becomes desirable and necessary during the normal driving of anautomobile and which will require a small amount of fuel, it isessential that the throttle valve be held slightly open. Howeven themechanism controlling the throttle valve has heretofore been adjusted insuch a way as to hold the throttle valve open all the time and evenwhenthe vehicle is'going down hill and when the brakes are being applied.Obviously, in these cases, although the engine is revolving, no fuel isrequired to maintain the movemont of the motor. prompt and completecutoff of the fuel sup ply would have eliminated an unnecessaryimpclling force of the motor and would have improved the braking effectof the engine. The prevailing methodof holding the throttle valveslightly open at all times even when coasting down hill results in alarge amount fouled by On the contrary, av

of gasoline being sucked into the engine and wasted, and this isespecially true when the engine is connected to the car through any ofthe reducing gears, in order to produce a greater braking effects.

With the foregoing in view, this invention provides a means of realizinga con siderable saving of fuel by keeping the carbureter throttle valveautomatically closed at all times in a positive and reliable manner, andby permitting motor fuel to reach the motor only when the throttle valveis opened intentionally. .The opening of the throttle valve may beeffected either by means of the usual hand or foot throttle levermechanism, "or automatically in cooperation with the vehicle drivingmechanism. In the latter case the throttle valve of this invention isautomatically opened a predetermined amount to provide the exactquantityof fuel for the motor in order to enable the engine to idle'whenthis is desirable.

These automatic throttle valve controlling means, furthermore, aresusceptible of adjustment to admit of their application to varied typesof carbureters and throttle valves, and to accord with desired settingsfor the valve opening.

In addition to fuel saving, said means for automatically cutting off thefuel supply,

when coasting, will considerably assist the brakes of the vehicle andtherefore increase their durability.

Supplementing the above advantages afhe automatic closing and openingmeans for the throttle valve are those derived from the circumstancewhereb means do not in any way interfere with the normal function orwith air and fuel adjustments of the carbureter, and whereby back firingand untimely explosions may be prevented in many cases.

Other means have also been provided for making the manual operation ofthe throttle valve entirely independent of the automatic control andvice versa, which together with other instrumentalitiesof this inventionwill now be described in detail on reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure I is a general view in side elevation and partial section of aconventional type of carburetor having the invention applied thereto.

said

Figure I]. is a diagran'nnatic view showing the throttle valve controlmechanism in connection with the clutch pedal mechanism of theautomobile.

General construction.

As shown in Figure I, the carbureter 1 oflany conventional type containsa throttle valve which may be also of any desired type but is showntocomprise a butterfly valve 2 which is tightly held upon its seat 3 bymeans of the helical tension spring 4. To the carburetor 1 is eithercast or suitably secured the lug or bracket 5 which serves as a fulcrum(S for hell crank 8. One lever arm 12 of this bell crank engages thethrottle valve lever 10 at its extremity by means of link 7 while theother lever arm 9 has pivotally connected therewith the operating rod 11of the automatic valve/control mechanism which will be describedhereinafter.

To the throttle valve lever 10 is connected the operating rod 13 whichextends from the point of pivotal connection to the usual hand or footthrottle valve lever mechanism. Ob viously, a movement of said rod 13 inthe direction of arrow 14 will cause lever 10 to move in the samedirection and open the butterfly valve 2 to any amount required for thenormal operation of the engine, which conforms with the usual operationof the throttle valve. Since the latter valve closes automatically whenthe-throttle valve lever is released, due to the action of spring 4, theoperating rod 13 will evidently be subjected to tensional stress onlyand may therefore he reduced to a minimum size or diameter.

' before, the operating rod 11 at its upper end i in leverarm 18, and isadjustably connected is pivotally connected to the leverarm 9 of theupper bellcrank 8 and registers through the lever arm 12, link 7 andlever 10 with the throttle valve 2, While the lower end of rod 11extends loosely through an aperture to the latter by means of adjustingnut 21 and lock nut 22 in such a manner as to partake only of thedownward movement of leverarm 1.8 and remain stationary when the lattermoves upwards. The other operating rod 20 similarly engages the verticalleverarm 19 through helical compression spring 23, adjustingnut 24 andlock nut 25, and connects at the other end through hellcrank 26, rod 27With the clutchpedal mechanism 28 as shown diagrammatically in FigureII.

By referring to Figure I, it will be seen thatthe vertical leverarm 19also comprises an adjusting screw 29 which in cooperation withstationary stop 17 will limit the movement of bellerank 16 revolvingaround pivot 30, and finally with it the opening of the butterfly valve2.

As mentioned above in connection with red 13, all other operating rods11, 20 and 27 are subjected to tensional stresses only, which featurepermits the best design.

Instead of the butterfly valve'as shown in F igure 1, any other type ofthrottle valve may be substituted, as for instance the conventional typeof disc valve provided however that the valve is made to fit tightly andalso kept in its closed position when not opened intentionally by meansof the hand or foot throttle lever or automatically by the mechanism ofthis invention. Only slight modifications of some parts would'herequired to adapt this invent-ion to other types of throttle valves.

General ope-ration of the mechanism;

llearing in mind that the throttle valve 2 of this invention is heldcompletely closed due to the action of spring 4, the operation of theentire mechanism will be clearly understood on reference to thefollowing description. In the usual course of driving the throttle valve2 may be opened against spring at by means of the conventional hand orfoot throttle lever connected to'operating rod 13 and by moving thelatter indirection of arrow 14. This operation will not in any wayinterfere with the automatic throttle valvemontrol mechanism, since therod 11' of a the latter is free to slide downward through an aperture inlever arm 18 and will therefore not cause a movement of bellerank 16.

\Vhen going down hill the manual or foot throttle lever is naturallyreleased, and the throttle valve 2 will immediately return to its closedposition. Obviously, during this operation the motor will not consumeany fuel whatever and will therefore act more efficiently as a brake.Furthermore, with the throttle valve automatically closed, itwill not benecessary to make any adjustments in the air or fuel supply for thecarburetor as was sometimes formerly the case when the throttle valvewas left slightly open during these same operations.

If now during the normal driving of the automobile it should becomedesirable or necessary to idle the motor, it is only necessary todisconnect the clutch in the usual manner by means of the clutch pedal29. The downward movement of the latter as indicated by arrow 31 willautomatically effect an opening of the throttle valve 2 and allow apredetermined amount of motor fuel to enter the motor for the purpose ofkeeping the engine revolving and preventup I ing it from being stalled.Thus the throttle valve is automatically opened and maintained open tocause the engine to idle responsive to a disconnection ofthe drivingmeans between the engine and the vehicle or upon the operator actuatingmeans tocontrol the operation of the vehicle. After the clutch is againconnected, the throttle valve 2 will automatically return to its closedpoiition and may be operated as described be-' ore.

By pushing the clutch pedal 28 downward in direction of arrow 31 ('seeFigure II) operating rod 20 will be forced to follow the movements ofbellcrank 26 and operating rod 27 and will therefore be pulled to movein direction of arrow 32. This move mentof rod 20 causes a revolving oflever arm 19 around pivot 30 in the same direction and a correspondinglowering of lever arm 18 and rod 11, but comes to a rest when theadjusting screw 29 bumps against or impinges the stationary stop 17 Thedown- ,ward movement of rod 11 as indicated by arrow 34 will cause arevolving of hellcrank 8 around its pivot and acorresponding'oscillation of cooperating lever arm 12 and lever 10,suitable to openthe throttle valve 2, as indicated by the dottedposition 35. It is evident that the opening of this valve is terminatedexactly at the same moment when the adjusting screw 29 touches thestationary-stop 1'1. Consequently the engine to idle, but thearrangement amount of valve opening can'be easily and exactly adjustedand maintained by means of adjusting screw 29.

Furthermore, by referring to Figure I, it will be seen that thismovement of the throttle valve control mechanism and par-. ticularly ofrod 11, bellcrank 8 and throttle lever 10 is effected independently ofand will not be interfered with in any way by'the rod 13 of the manualor foot throttle lever mechanism due to the provision of slot 33 in saidrod 13, which permits a free movement of valve lever 10 in direction ofarrow 14.

The helical com ression spring 23 positioned between ad usting nut 24andlever arm 19 is provided forthe purpose of compensating for thedifference in the extent ofv movements of bellcranks 16 and 17.. Thispermits of the connection 20 being further moved after ithas been movedto open the throttle valve and without further opening the valve. v

Other means may also be employed whereby the throttle valve may beopened to a limited extent only suflicient to cause the escribed whereinthe throttlevalve is opened to alimited extent just sutficient to causethe engine to idle upon operation of the clutch,

pedal, is preferred. 7

-VVhile I have described my improvements in great detail and withrespect to a preferred form thereof, I do not desire to be limited tosuchdetails or form since many changes and modifications may be made andthe invention embodied in widely different forms without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof in its broader aspects. Other means used,by the operator to control the operation of the vehicle in variousrespects may be utilized to automatically effeet the opening of thethrottle valve. Also various parts may be omitted altogether. ThereforeI desire to cover all forms and modifications coming within the languageor scope of any one or more of the appended claims. I f

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, said throttle valve being nor-- mallyv closed substantiallytight whereby When so closed substantially no fuel will be supplied tothe engine, means for operating said throttle valve to vary the amountof fuel supplied to the engine and vary the amount of power developed'bythe engine during the running of the vehicle, and means for opening saidthrottle valve and means whereby the action of said last mentioned meansis limited so that it opens the throttle valve to a lin'iitedwxtentonlyv sufficient to cause the engine to idle without fotherwiseaffectingthe operativeness of said first mentioned means.

2. The combination with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throt t-le valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, said throttle valve being normally closed substantially tightwhereby when so closed substantially no fuel will be supplied to theengine, manually controlled means for operating said throttle valve tovarythe amount of fuel supplied to the engine and vary the amount ofpower developed by the engine during the running of the vehicle,andmeans controlled independently, by the operator of the vehicle formaintaining said throttle valve open and means whereby said lastmentioned means acts to open and maintain open said throttle valve onlyto an extent just sufiicient to cause the engineto idle withoutotherwise afl'ectingthe operation of said first men tione means. I 3.The combination, with a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine,of a normally closed throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply tothe engine, means for opengine during the running of the vehicle, an

means for independently. opening said throttle valve to a limited extentto cause I the engine to idle, said last mentioned means being operatedto so open the throttle valve responsive to a. disconnection of thedrivirlig means between the engine and the vehic e.

4. The combination with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, said throttle valve being normally closed substantially tightwhereby when so closed substantially no fuel will be supplied to theengine, manually controlled means for operating said throttle valve tovary the amount of fuel supplied to the engine and vary the amount ofpower developed by the engine during the running of the vehicle, andmeans controlled independently by the operator of the vehicle formaintaining said throttle valve open to at least an extent to cause theengine to idle without otherwise affecting the operation of said firstmentioned means, said last mentioned means being operated to so open thethrottle valve, by a disconnection of the driving means between theengine and the vehicle.

5. The combination with a vehicle driven by an internalcombustion'engine, of a throt tle valve for controlling the fuel supplyto the engine, said throttle valve being normally closed substantiallytight whereby when so closed substantially no fuel will be supplied tothe engine, means, for operating said throttle valve to vary the amountof fuel supplied to the engine and'varythe amount of power developed bythe engine during the running of the vehicle, andmeans for opening saidthrottle valve to a limited extent to cause theengine to idle withoutotherwise affecting the operativeness of said first mentioned means.said last mentioned means being operated to so open the throttle valve,by a disconnection of the driving means between the engine and thevehicle, and means whereby the amount said 'last mentioned means opensthe throttle valve, may be adjusted.

6. The combination, with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, manually controlled means for operating said throttle valve tovary the amount of fuel supplied to the engine. and

vary the amount of power developed by the engine durin the runningofthevehicle, and means contro led and independently by the operator of thevehicle for maintaining said throttle valve open to a limited extent tocause the engine to idle, said last mentioned means being operated to soopen the throttle valve by movement of the clutch lever of the vehicleto disconnect the driving means between the engine and the vehicle.

7. The combination, with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, a spring for holding said valve closed tightly whereby when soclosed substantially no fuel will be supplied to the engine, aconnection by means of which the operator of the vehicle may open saidvalve to various extents to vary the amount of fuel supplied to theengine in the operation of the vehicle, a second connection operation ofwhich acts to open and maintain open the valve and means whereby theaction of said second connection is limited so that itopens the throttlevalve to a limited extent only sufiicient to cause the engine to idle,and means whereby operation of said second connection does not affectsaid first connection.

8. The combination, with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for -controlling-the fuel supply to theengine, a spring for holding said valve closed tightly whereby when soclosed substantially no fuel will be supplied to the engine, aconnection by means, of which the operator of the vehicle may open saidvalve to various extent-s to vary the amount of fuel supplitd to theengine in the operation of the vehicle, means including a lever foropening said valve and maintaining the valve open to a limited extentsuflicient to cause the engine to idle and independently of said firstconnection, and a connection from said lever whereby the operator maymove the lever to so open the valve, said last mentioned connection andlever having cooperating parts permitting the last mentioned connectionto be'further moved after it has been moved to so open the valve andwithout further opening the valve.

9. The combination, with a vehicle driven by an internal combustionengine, of a throttle valve for controlling the fuel supply to theengine, manuallycontrolle'cl means for operating said throttle valve tovary the amount of fuel supplied to the engine and vary the amount ofpower developed b v the engine during the running of the vehicle,

.and means controlled independently by the operator of the vehicle formaintaining said by an internal combustion engine. of a throttle valvefor controlling the fuel supply to the engine, said throttle valve-beingnormally closed substantially tight whereby when so closed substantiallyno fuel will be supplied to the engine, manually controlled means foroperating said throttle valve to vary the amount of fuel supplied to theengine and vary the amount of power devel oped by the engine-during 'therunning of the vehicle, and means controlled independently by theoperator of the Vehicle for maintaining said throttle valve open to at'least an extent to cause the engine to idle without otherwise affectingthe operation of 10 of the vehicle.

11. In combination with a carbureter for motor-vehicles, comprising atight fitting throttle valve, automatlc closing means for said valve,means actuated by the clutch pedal'mechanism of said vehicle, whereby inthe disen a 'ed' )os1t1on of sand clutch said valve is openedautomatically a predetermined amount.

Signed at New Y ork, in the county 'ofNew York and State of New York,this 20th day 2 of November A. D. 1923.

HENRY A. LARDNER.

